Low-height tractor for hauling mine cars



Oct. 9, 1951 J, c ss 2,570,319

LOW HEIGHT TRACTOR FOR HAULING MINE CARS Filed Dec. 9, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Joe Cassady By @Wwm.

WWW 8 M51? Oct. 9, 1951 J. CASSADY LOW HEIGHT TRACTOR FOR HAULING MINECARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1948 /08 Fig. 3

In uentor iiri i Fig 7.

6 .a m H .Joe Gassady B y w and WW 1? M516]:

Oct. 9, 1951 J, c ss 2,570,319-

LOW HEIGHT TRACTOR FOR HAULING MINE CARS Filed Dec. 9, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Joe Gassady Fig.5.

Oct. 9, 1951 J. CASSADY LOW HEIGHT TRACTOR FOR HAULING MINE CARS 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 9, 1948 OOOOOOOO Inventor Joe Cassady andPatented Oct. 9, 1951 OFFICE V g V 12,570319 V LOW HEIGHT *T-RiACTORQFORHAULING CARS 'Joe Caslaii'yi, Iaege'rQW Va. v I Application Decemter Q,1948, serial No. 64,316

2 cleans. (01. 120-65) 9 This invention relates to new and psefulimprovements in tractors .andthe primary object of the present inventionis to provide a three wheelpelectrically operated, vehicle of a minimumoverall height for haulingmine carsland the like.

Another important object of the present invention is to. provide anelectric motor driven vehicle for mines having a steering wheelpermitting sharper turns torbe efiected than track-type or four wheeltype vehicles presently employed as tractors .in mines.

Another feature. of the present invention isto provide altractoriforhauling .minecars having an operators platformat one side andintermediate the forward and rear wheels thereof to reduce the shocknormally affecting an operator.

Another feature of the present, invention ,i'sto provide a tractoroflthe aforementioned ,.charac-' ter includinglan electricallyoperatedmoto'r for driving the tractorand embodying novel and im* provedbatterycompartments, adaptedto receive batteries forsupplying energy tothe motor and to lights mounted ono'the tractor.

Another feature .of the present invention .is'to provide a, tractorrforhauling mine carsincluding a guard embracing the tractor andproviding shielding means for the wheels of the tractor and an operatorseated on thet'ractor. l.

Afurther object .ofthe present .inventionrzis to: provide .a vehicle forhauling, mine cars jincluding an electrically operated power plant and a:safety switch controlling the power 1.plant,.said switch being moved.to a circuit open :position when an operator releases'the same :toprevent accidental movement of the vehicle.

. A still further aim of the present inventionlzis to provide a tractorthat is simple and practical in construction, strong and durable in use,small and compact in structure, efficient and reliable'inoperation,rneat and attractive .in appearance, relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the p-urposesfo'r whichithesame is intended.

.Other objects and advantages reside in thedee tails of constructionandoperation as more :fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebe-' ing had, to the accompanying drawingsiform-ing part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to -like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the presentinvention; a

Figure 2 is a side elevationalview of Figured; Figure 3 is a frontelevational view-of Figureil; V Figure 4 is an'enlarged transverse,vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane :of sectionline 4-4 of Figure. 2;

Figure-;5 is a'glongitudinal, horizontal sectional view;takensubstantially on the plane of section line 5--5 of Figure 4; V

Figure ,6 is 'an;,enlarged transverse vertical sec tional viewtakensubstantially on the plane-6f Figure '7 is'a fragmentaryperspective view cf the; rearportion-of the, present invention andillustratingthe-hitch; means; V

Figure 18 is an enlarged, sectional view taken substantially on theplane ofsection line 8-8-ef Figure *1 and illustratingthe safety switchused in conjunction with the present invention;

Figure 9 is a viewsimilar toFFigure 5 and showa ing the power meansiinslightly modified form;

and j Figure 10;,is ,a-schemmaticdiagram showing the electrical circuitused in conjunction with the power'meansof Figure 9 V p Referringnowtothe-drawingsin detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, thereis;,dis closed apreferred: embodiment of thepresent inventionthe numerall0 represents thepresent tractor or wheeled'frame generally, includingan elongated, substantially flat sheet of metal 12 formingaplatform-andzhaving its outer longitudinal side edges turned downwardlyto provide a relatively low side wall [4, and the lowenportion of theside wall 14 is turned inwardly to form an *Quter fianged portion 16. VI

'An'enlarged'channel member I8 is disposed adjacentthe innerlongitudinaledge of thesheet l2 and the inner leg; of this member is securedby'welding or .the like to the inner longitudinal edge of the sheet;l2;,as shown best inFigure i of thedraw ings, To the outer-leg of thechannel member I 8 there is suitably fixed a longitudinally extendingangleiron beam 20 :for apurpose which will later be morefullyapparent. IW

The side wall I4 or an auxiliary side beam 2i braced to the side-wallI;4, is ;braced to thebeam 20 by; -.a plurality. of transverselyextendingcross members or straps}! one of which supportsa transmission24 and a plurality of electric Inctors,;26, 28,- Q30 and 32; Thetransmission includes-adriven shaft S t-that supports a plurality ofpulleysitfi; 38, 40;and,42 which are connected to pulleys 4 4 1 a.; and'50, o,n therespectiye motors 26,-28, -30 and 32-,-by endless belts 52,-.54, md.,

Extending transversely between and suitably secured to the side wall I4and member lli,rearwardly -of the transmission 24 and the ,motqrs 26,2-8, 3-0 andiiz isarear axle mounting in cluding. a diff erentia-LBZhaving a forwardly-p ece ject-ing shaft :64 ital-lat supports a"sprocket gear 66. The gear 66 is disposed adjacent a further sprocketgear 68 mounted on the rear portion 10 of the shaft 34 and is connectedto the gear 66 by a sprocket chain 12.

One axle 14 of the mounting 60 is relatively short to position thedifferential and transmission at one side of the present tractor andbeneath the web of the channel member I8 as illustrated best in Figure 4of the drawings. The axle mounting 60 is associated with a pair of rearwheels 16 that are controlled by wheel brakes 18 of any suitable typeand a brake operating rod 80 operatively connected to the brakes 18 areoperated by a hand lever 82 disposed on the inner leg of the channelmember I8 (see Fig. 1).

The gear shift lever or rod 84 for the transmission 24 extends forwardlythrough the web of the channel member I8 so that both the lever 82' androd 84 may be conveniently operated by a driver seated upon the sheet ofmetal or platform I2.

Embracing the forward portion of the present tractor I0, is a guardconsisting of a pair of forwardly and inwardly inclined angle ironmembers 86 the forward ends of which are joined by a cross beam 88.Posts 90 rise from the beam 88 and are connected to an upper cross beam92 and a pair of rearwardly extending upper angle iron beams 94. AU-shaped support member 96 embraces and is suitably fixed to the beams94. This support member 96 is provided with a central bearing 98 thatreceives an upstanding shaft I that projects from the web of a wheelfork I02 and the legs of the fork I02 support an axle I04 for a forward,steering wheel I06.

One end of a steering lever I08 is suitably secured to the shaft I00 andis normally disposed above the sheet of metal I2.

The legs of the U-shaped support member 96 are suitably fixed toextensions IIO projecting from the side wall I4 and member I8.

Spaced from the angle iron member 20 is a further angle iron guard andsupport rail II2 the forward end of which is fixed to one of the members86. A support wall H4 is supported on the member 20 and rail I I2 toform a battery compartment at one side of the instant tractor. Extendingbetween the side wall I4 and the member I8, there is provided a rearbattery compartment II6 that is disposed rearwardly of the axle mounting60 and which receives a plurality of batteries II8. Fins I20 projectoutwardly from the compartment II6 and form guards one of which supportsa tail light I22. The compartment II6 includes a hinged closure I24 thatis conveniently raised for access to the batteries II8.

An inclined foot board or floor panel I26 is fixed to the support 96,the member I8 and the sheet of metal I2 and supports a light switch.

I28, a master switch I30 and a safety switch I32. The switches I28 andI30 are of any suitable type, but the safety switch I32, as shown bestin Figure 8, includes a casing I34 that is supported by a bracket I36. Apair of fixed contacts I38 and I40 carried by the casing I34 are adaptedto be bridged by a movable contact plate I42 insulated from one end ofand movable with a slidable plunger I44.

The plunger I44 is housed within a sleeve I46 and the upper end of theplunger I44 is fixed to a cap I48 having a flanged portion I50 thatembraces the sleeve I46. A 0011 spring I52 embraces the plunger I44 andis biased between the casing I34 and thecap I48 to normally urge theplunger to a raised position with the contact plate I42 spaced from thecontacts I38 and I40.-

An anchor or base plate I54 is suitably secured to the axle mounting 60and supports solenoids I56, I58, I60 and I62 that are connected bysuitable conductors to the motors 26, 28, 30 and 32 respectively.

The batteries II8 are electrically connected inparallel and include fourlead wires that are connected to the respective solenoids I56, I58, I60and I62 so that all of the batteries will be discharged equally duringthe operation of the motors.

The switches I30 and I32 are connected to the solenoid I62 by wires I64and I66 and the switch I28 is connected to the wires I64 in any suitablemanner to control a forward lamp I68 carried by the support member 96.

In practical use of the present invention, the switches I30 or I32, areoperated selectively, depending on whether the tractor is to be safelyoperated or not. When the switch I32 is used and the switch I30 is off,as the operator releases the switch I32 the current to the motors willbe cut-off to make the tractor inoperative.

As the switch, either I30 or I32, is moved to a circuit closingposition, current will first enter the solenoid I62 to the motor 32 tostart the shaft 34 rotating, then the solenoid I60 will be actuated tostart the motor 30 and increase the rotation of the shaft 34, next thesolenoid I58 will be actuated to start the motor 28 and further increasethe speed of the shaft 34, and finally the solenoid I56 will be actuatedto start the motor 26 and increase the rotary speed of the shaft 34 toits maximum. The above described operation for the motors is almostinstantaneous and requires very little time.

It should be noted, that the primary feature of the present invention isto provide a small, compact and relatively low built tractor for use inpulling mine cars and consequently the overall height of thepresent-tractor is approximately 24 /2".

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a tractor havinga single steering wheel that is operated by a lever accessible from theplatform I2.

Another feature of the instant mine car hauling tractor is the use ofconventional and well known transmission and differential, such as aPlymouth, the latter being reconstructed to place the differential andtransmission at one side of the tractor opposite from the driversposition to afford a proper and necessary balance.

Also the use of batteries will reduce the operating cost and make thepresent invention meet all requirements for use in mines.

The employment of the safety switch will permit deactivation of themotors when the driver is approaching an obstacle in order to reduce thetraveling speed of the tractor which is relatively low.

' Substantially L-shaped wheel shields or fenders I10 are suitably fixedto the sheet I2 and member I8 and embrace the wheels'16.

Means is provided for coupling the'tractor I0 to a mine car and thismeans comprises upper and lower angle members I12 and I14 which arewelded, or otherwise suitably fixed to the rear wall I16 of thecompartment H6. The horizont'al legs I18 and I'of these angle membersare spaced parallelitoeach other to receive a suitable draw bar andapertures I82 are provided in the legs I18 and I80 to receive a suitablehitch or coupling pin.

Obviously, many types of power plants could be utilized in conjunctionwith the present invention. One type is illustrated in Figures 1-8inclusive, however, a further type is disclosed in .Figures 9 and 10wherein the group of motors is replaced by a single motor I84, and thegroup of solenoids is replaced by a single solenoid I86. The motor I84,is of the electric type, and inclures a drive shaft having a pluralityof pulleys I88 thereon which are connected, by endless belts I90, to thepulleys I9I on the transmission 24.

Battery compartments are provided at the sides of the tractor inaddition to the rear battery compartment H8 and the batteries in allcompartments are connected in series to the solenoid I86 and motor I84,the motor requiring approximately 115 volts.

The switches I28, I30 and I32 are provided in this latest constructionas well as the other parts previously referred to in the description forFigures 1-8 inclusive.

It is preferred that the instant tractor be constructed from metal,however, any suitable material, such as lumber, could be utilizedwithout deviating from its intention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tractor for hauling mine cars, said tractor comprising athree-wheeled frame of a height less than three feet, one of said wheelsbeing a steering wheel and the other of said wheels being drivingwheels, said frame including a hollow longitudinal portion at one sidebetween said driving wheels and the steering wheel, said frame alsoincluding an elongated and fiat platform at the side opposite saidhollow portion and recessed relative to said hollow portion, saidplatform being sufiiciently long to accommodate a driver in a proneposition, an electrically operated power means mounted within saidhollow portion and operatively connected to said driving wheels, and arigid lever attached to said steering wheel for operating the steeringwheel and disposed for movement in a plane below the top of the frameand above said hollow portion, whereby said lever is accessible by adriver disposed on said platform in a prone position.

2. A tractor for hauling mine cars, said tractor being of minimum heightand comprising an elongated frame having a front steering wheel and apair of rear driving wheels, said frame including a hollow longitudinalportion at one side extending between said steering wheel and saiddriving wheels, said frame also including a longitudinal platformdisposed below the hollow portion and alongside of said hollow portionbetween the steering wheel and the driving wheels and being sufficientlylong to accommodate an operator in a prone position, and a steeringlever attached to said steering wheel and disposed for movement in aplane below the top of the frame and above the hollow portion to permitmanual operation of said steering wheel by a driver disposed in a proneposition on said platform, and an electrically operated power meansmounted within said hollow portion and operatively connected to saiddriving wheels.

JOE CASSADY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 704,809 Krotz July 15, 19021,164,863 Potter et a1 Dec. 21, 1915 1,233,824 Towson July 17, 19171,635,236 Tolson July 12, 1927 1,759,252 Coburn et a1. May 20, 19301,892,865 Brown Jan. 3, 1933 1,974,922 La Croix Sept. 25, 1934 2,184,557Lloyd Dec. 26, 1939 2,209,177 Stoltz July 23, 1940 2,232,275 RomiingFeb. 18, 1941 2,284,661 Joy June 2, 1942 2,395,323 Framhein Feb. 19,1946 2,477,252 Hutchings July 26, 1949

